Former President Jerry John Rawlings is celebrating Tuesday’s acquittal of Ivory Coast’s ex-President Laurent Gbagbo by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

In our series of letters from African writers the journalist and lawyer Brian Hungwe reflects on the impact of inflation on the lives of Zimbabweans, where the price of fuel has more than doubled in an effort to deal with a shortage.

The Rwandan government is sending officials across the country to enforce its ban on skin lightening and bleaching products.

A Nepali mother and her two children were found dead Wednesday morning, after being exiled from their family home as part of a criminalized practice where women and girls are made to sleep alone during their menstrual cycle.

A young man who sold one of his kidneys as a teenager on the black market in order to buy a new iPhone and iPad is now disabled, bedbound and needing constant care, according to recent reports on Chinese media.

Ghana’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Mr George Ayisi-Boateng has been spending the first working week of the New Year visiting Ghanaians in South Africa at their various workplaces to interact with them and to check on their well-being.

Keystone Bank Limited has denied allegations that President Muhammadu Buhari has a stake in the bank.

A Saudi woman who fled her family and refused to leave a Bangkok hotel has been declared a legitimate refugee by the UN, the Australian government says.

Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun, 18, refused to board a flight from Bangkok to Kuwait on Monday and barricaded herself into her airport hotel room.

She said she feared her family would kill her for renouncing Islam.

The UN's refugee agency has referred her case to Australia for possible resettlement.

In a brief statement, Australia's Department of Home Affairs said it would "consider this referral in the usual way".

"The government will be making no further comment on this matter," it said.

Refugee status is normally granted by governments, but the UNHCR can grant it where states are "unable or unwilling to do so, according to its website.

The UNHCR says it does not comment on individual cases.

Ms Mohammed al-Qunun's father and brother have arrived in Thailand but she is refusing to see them.

Thai immigration officials had initially said she should return to Kuwait, where her family were waiting.

Officials in Australia have hinted that her request will be accepted.

"If she is found to be a refugee, then we will give very, very, very serious consideration to a humanitarian visa," Health Minister Greg Hunt told the ABC network before the UN determination was made public.

Foreign Minister Marise Payne will be in Thailand on Thursday as part of a pre-planned visit.